Embedding signage within an iconic skin
The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) is a landmark. Designed by Woods Bagot, its distinctive diagrid façade was inspired by the pinecone, a form chosen for its environmental responsiveness as much as its visual impact. With more than 700 researchers working in a $200 million facility beside the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the building plays a dual role as a scientific powerhouse and a symbol of Adelaide’s research ambition.
Humanics Collective was engaged to deliver a wayfinding and signage system that worked with the architecture, not over it. From the start, the aim was to embed the signage into the building’s DNA, ensuring it aligned with the form, tone and texture of the space around it.
Project
SAHMRI
Client
WoodsBagot
Collaborators
Department for Infrastructure and Transport - South Australia
Location
Adelaide, Australia
Size
Project Build Cost
Focus
Concept development happened in workshops with the architects, a direct and effective way of working that avoided the kind of isolated design process that too often slows things down. Here, both the architects and our design team sketched, discussed, whiteboarded, and covered the table in yellow trace paper until we had agreement on the approach. That shared direction then formed the basis for the concept we presented to the client.
Externally, we designed sculptural signage elements that reflected the building’s geometry. These were grouped in clusters and placed at ground level to guide visitors without competing visually with the façade. The approach avoided literal or oversized markers and instead focused on spatial flow and subtle cues to direct people to the main entry.
Inside, bold colours and integrated placement helped signage anchor itself within a dynamic interior. High-volume atriums, bridges, glass partitions and spiral stairs created a complex visual environment. Many elements were applied directly to glass or incorporated into built joinery to maintain visual continuity and reduce visual clutter.
The resulting system is legible and present, supporting the building's identity, enhancing usability, and reinforcing SAHMRI’s public image as a place of innovation, collaboration, and visibility. In this iconic building, the wayfinding system sits comfortably within the architecture and completes the experience.
